The Passing of Genshitsu Sen, Head of the Urasenke Tea Tradition

• Genshitsu Sen passed away at the age of 102 on September 14, 2025.
• He was the 15th headmaster of the Urasenke tea school and an active proponent of peace.
• Sen prepared tea for world leaders and received numerous awards for his contributions to culture.

This was reported by The Yomiuri Shimbun, Asharq Al-Awsat.

Genshitsu Sen, former head of the Urasenke tea school and ex-pilot of the kamikaze, passed away at the age of 102 on September 14, 2025. Sen, who was born in 1923, became the 15th headmaster of the Urasenke tea school in 1964, following the death of his father.

During World War II, he recorded himself as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy through student mobilization, but did not carry out any kamikaze missions. In his interviews, Sen emphasized the importance of peace, stating that "the time for tea is to nurture the spirits of peace." He believed that peace was possible if everyone would be calm.

Sen utilized his popularity to promote tea culture worldwide. He prepared matcha bowls for world leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. His ceremonies took place at the UN in New York and at the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor.

For his contributions to culture, he received numerous awards, including the Order of Culture of Japan in 1997 and the Order of the Legion of Honor in France in 2020.

Tags: Culture